Golf tee and support therefor



NOV. 28, 1933. B. GQLDMAN 1,936,625

GOLF TEE AND SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed July 1, 1931 Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT eerie.

1,936,625 GOLF TEE AND sUrroR'r THEREFOR Benjamin Goldman, New York, N. Y. Application July 1, 1931. Serial No. 548,113 8 Claims. (01. 27s s2.)

This invention relates to golf tees and associated devices. 7

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having a golf tee and a mounting therefor in improved association; and further to provide a golf tee having improved removable engagement with a portable support therefor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a golf tee having improved locking connection with a support; and the further provision of an adjustable engagement for setting the tee at a desired elevation.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a golf tee mounted in an improved manner upon a flexible support which will yield when the golf tee is accidentally struck by a club and yet maintain the tee in required position without loss or breakage of the tee.

Another object of the invention is to construct an improved golf tee, which may or may not be resilient, and which is well adapted for mounting, fastening, or for various adjustments in a superior manner; and, further, a portable support of improved character which'may coact with different types of golf tees for mounting the same in a positive reliable manner. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the nature set forth having relatively few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and reliable and efficient in use. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed. out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated'by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device ing the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof taken on line 2--2 of 'Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the golf tee in detached position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modification thereof. I

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modification of the invention.

embody- Fig. 6 is a top plan view showing in separate relation the mounting of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing another modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view of a modified form of golf tee.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view in elevation of a further modificationof the invention, with parts in section.

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation of a further modification of the golf tee, with a part in section.

Fig. 111s a perspective view of a further modification of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of a further modification.

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view thereof. 3

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a modified golf tee.

Fig. 15 isa vertical sectional view of a further modification of a golf tee. V

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrurnentalities' are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art A to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exe nplification of the invention.

Generally described this invention aims to provide an improved golf tee and/or an improved mounting therefor. The golf tee may be arranged with a novel anchorage for retaining the same in position whether mounted in the ground, or on the portable support, or on some other means, either portable or stationary. In the case of the ordinary'golf tee, the same may be lost if accidentally struck by the golf club, or it may be deformed or broken. These drawbacks are largely overcome by the present invention. Golf tees in the nature of projections from rubber matshave been known, but these do not possess the features of replaceability, adjustability, nor the generally desirable characteristics of the conventional golf tees, all of which are inherent in this invention. It is further noted that while the applicants golf tees possess the required degree of rigidity and compactness, they may also be somewhat resilient, and also that the mounting itself affordsa degree of resilience to avoid undue strainon the golf tee if it should accidentally' be struck. Other features and advantages ofthe invention will be more particularly described hereinafter.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 15 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may include any suitable su port 16 which is preferably portable in character, and may be made of various mat "'als which may be rigid, or flexible as rubber. This support 15 may be stationary but it may also be movable as, for example, by reason of the inherent flexibility thereof. One form of the suppor may include a relatively large portion 1'? for mounting a golf tee, which may be circular if desired, and which may have an extension 18 of a suitable length and preferably in the plane of the portion 17. The extension 17 may serve as an anchorage for the support. Thus, upon placing the device on the ground, the extension may be suitably engaged therewith, for instance, by a weight placed on the extension, or directly by an anchor pin 20 which may itself be a golf tee as hereinafter set forth. It will be noted that the device 16 may be skeletonized for the purpose of saving material.

Disposed at a suitable point of the support portion 1'7 may be any means 21 for engaging a golf tee. One form of construction is to provide an opening 22 for receiving the stern of the tee so as to properly hold the same. For example, said opening may be formed by an eyelet or ferrule 23 embedded in or extended through the support and engaged therewith as by upper and lower flanges 24, 25 that may be headed over the support. Thus a strong and durable detachable engagement may be afforded for holding the tee frictionally or otherwise. Clearly the ferrule may also be rotatable in the support.

A golf tee 26 may be of the conventional type and made of any desired material such as wood, composition, or metal, preferably the latter. This tee may have a stem 27 of flat or round cross section and a concave ball support 28 at the upper end thereof connected thereto in stationary or rotatable relation, and integrally or by riveting, press fitting, welding and by stamping, molding, or turning operations. The member 28 is thus adapted to carry a golf ball 29 for the teeing of? operation.

Being positioned in the opening 22, the tee may be so inserted as to extend at different elevations. The end 39 of the tee may abut or extend into the ground, whereby additional support or holding for the golf tee is afforded. In fact the support 16 may be regarded as a guide for the tee in projecting the same into the ground, and the support and ground may each supplement the other in holding the tee. The engagement of the tee with the ground may also act as an adjacent anchorage for the supporting portion 17.

While the may be mounted for permanent connection with the support 16, it is preferably removable therefrom. In order to releasably engage the tee in a positive manner with the support so as to prevent the tee from being struck loose from the support, a locking means may be arranged between the tee and the support. Thus the tee may have a lateral projection 31 adjacent to an end thereof, and the support 16 may have a recess 32 that may be formed in an edge of the opening 22 of the ferrule 23, so that the projection 31 may be passed downward therethrough. After the tee is thus inserted, it is turned so as to bring the projection or tongue 31 out of alinement with the recess, whereby direct removal of the tee is prevented. The projection 31 may be wedge shaped to facilitate insertion of the tee into the ground. It is thus seen that the tee may be placed at different elevations.

The pin 20 may also be in the nature of a golf tee and may be of any construction or the same as that hereinbefore described. In this case the top 28 is shown as being in the form of a dished disc secured to the stem by riveting at 32. The lug 31 serves to securely anchor the extension 18 to the ground, and the tee may be fully inserted shown, although it may also project upwardly to carry a golf ball. It will be noted that the openin 33 through which the tee is mounted may be free of any eyelet, and of course the elastic material of the extension will yield to permit the passage of the lug. However, ferrule mounting such as 27 may also be employed.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification of the invention including a golf tee 34 having a stem 35 and a ball holder 36, the former having a longitudinal ridge 3'? extending from the end thereof to a point in proximity to the ball holder. This ridge is adapted to engage in the recess 32 so as to increase the frictional engagement or to cause a secure fitting of the tee into the ferrule 23 independently of any locking action. The ridge may also strengthen the tee while maintaining resilience in certain directions.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified golf tee 38 having a stem 39 and ball holder 40, the former having a groove or cut out of the stem to a point in proximity to the end thereof. The groove is adapted to engage with a projection or looking tongue as hereinafter described and shown in Fig. 5. By extending the groove to the top of the stem, the locking tongue may be passed into the groove 41 at its upper end and the holder or head thereafter fastened to the stem in any suitable manner, whereby the locking tongue is permanentlyinterengaged with andmay be movable along the 41 extending from the top groove according to the elevation at which the V tee is to be set. i

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a modified golf tee and mounting including a tee 42 having a stem 43 and a head 44 formed therewith or secured thereto in any suitable manner as by riveting.

The stem may have a cut out 45 extending ther along and terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the stem. Any feasible golf tee support (id/or as shown in Fig. 1 with the exception of the extension '13, mayinclude a which may have a ferrule 18 mounted thereon, this ferrule having a lip or tongue 49 formed or therwise struck therefrom as at 50 so as to project inward of the ferrule. engage in the cut out 45, as by being suitably passed, bent or sprung thereinto, especially if it be resilient. This tongue may also be rigid, and thus engage in the groove 41 of the device shown in Fig. 4. In either case, the tee is preferably permanentlylocked to its support or holder, and is movable up and down for setting the head at a desired elevation.

In Fig. 7 is shown a modified device including a golf tee 51 having a stem 52 and a head 53. The stem may have vertically spaced projections thereon which may be embodied in the form of a thread 54. Thus the teeis engageable in various kinds of. devices or materials for a releasable convenient interengagement. 'For example, a support 55 may have a coasting or threaded portion such-as the ferrule 56, whereby the tee may be reliably set at a desired height and strongly retained therein against accidental removal.

In Fig. 3 is shown a device 5'? including a This tongue may i tee having a stem 58 and a head 59, the former being provided with a helical thread 60. This thread is of sufficient pitch to cause easy insertion and rotation of the stem in the ground or in a support 61 that may be made of rubber or other material and may have tits or a corresponding helical thread for engaging the stern. By preferably making the head 59 rotatable on the stem, as by a riveted journal connection, the operator need only press down on the head to cause the stem to enter and automatically rotate into screw en agement with the support.

In Q is shown a further modification of the device including a golf tee 62 having a stem 63 a as all of any conventional type or as herein described. The stem have a series of longitudinally spaced convolutions which may be formed by circular grooves 65 to increase the holding engagement a support. While the latter may be of any suitable type, it may, for purposes of illustration, consist of a support or pad of the general type shown in Fig. l and having an engagement portion 66 and an extension 67 on which may rest a weight or some other anchorage may be provided. The significant thing is that if the member 66 is of a yielding or elastic mate ial it will be thoroughly engaged in the grooves 65 so as to strongly hold the tee. The latter may be engaged merely by forcibly inserting the stem in a hole 69 of somewhat smaller size than that of the stem.

In Fig. 1G is a modification that may include a golf tee '20 having a stern and a head 72 which may be of various constructions, except that the stem may have a plurality of longitudinally and angularly spaced projections '73, '24. One manner of making the stem is to form it of wire by bending as shown, whereby a high degree of resilience may be attained. This tee may be mounted in a support as shown for instance in Fig. l by inserting the lower projection 73 through the recess 32, then turning the tee while the projection 74 lies above the ferrule 23. Now by turning the tee, the lower projection moves out or" alinement with the groove 32 for locking while the upper projection may remain out of alinement with the recess. In this manner the tee may be releasably locked by a slight turn against upward or downward movement.

In Fig. 11 is shown a modification including a portable support 74 carrying a plurality of golf tees or ball holders 75 so arranged that they will support balls at different heights. Obviously the base '76 may be of var o s shapes or it may have notions of different thickness, so that the holdrs '75 may be of uniform length, if desired. These holders may have their upper ends dished as shown at 7'3. The holders may be connected in any suitable manner to the base, but the entire device may be of one piece construction and may be molded of rubber, bakelite, or constructed of other materials. While it is preferably of triangular, skeletonized form it may also be constructed in other shapes.

In Figs. 12 to 14 is shown a modification of the invention, which include a support 78 in which is provided a bearing portion such as a ferrule Z9. Journaled in the bearing may be a sleeve or other mounting 80 having flanges taking over the ferrule so as to retain the sleeve in engagement with the ferrule. The sleeve may have any suitable or slot opening 81 extending centrally therethrough. Various types of golf tees may be received in said opening, as, for instance, a tee having a flat stem 82 on which is suitably secured a;head83. The stem may have a tit or projection 84 struck therefrom, preferably of triangular form, with an apex lowermost, and the projection being near the lower end of the stem. Upon inserting the stem into the opening 81, the locking projection 84. may be forced therethrough, resiliently or otherwise, and particularly by reason of the lower pointed end of the projection. The upper fiat side of the same will engage the under surface of the sleeve and practically prevent removal of the tee from the sleeve.

It will be appreciated that the drawing is intended to illustrate the invention, but without limitingthe same thereto, and that various;

features shown in the different figures may be interchangeably correlated. and used in other modifications, and that c rtain features of the invention may be used for playing various games, all nin the principles defined in the following claims.

In 15 is shown a further modification of a golf tee 35 of any well known type or of any of the types hereinbefore described, and characterized chiefly in that, where a head such as 86 is made of metal, a cushioning means is associated therewith to prevent marring of the golf club should the same strike the tee. The cushioning means may be in the nature of an elastic band sprung over the edge of the head 86 so as to curve around and snugly embrace the same. The elastic band may be of any suitable kind of rubber, such that it will not be out upon impact therewith of the golf club. This cushioning means may be similarly applied to any other golf tee head to function in the same man ner.

I claim:

l. A portable device including a base of pliable material, said base having an anchor portion having a keyhole opening therethrough and said anchor portion being otherwise continuous, and a golf tee having a shankprovided with a lateral locking projection at a lower end thereof,

said shank being receivable in said opening with the projection passing therethrough to engage the underside of the anchor portion adjacent to said opening, the rest of the shank being free so that the golf tee is vertically adjustable relative to base in the locked position mentioned.

2. A device including a base portion adapted to rest on the ground, said base portion having a keyhole opening extending therethrough, said base portion having a relatively nonyielding wall for said keyhole opening, and a golf tee having a lateral projection located in the region at the lower end of the golf tee shank, said'shank and projection being movable through said opening and the projection being interlocked with the underside of the said wall by a relative angular movement between the golf tee and base, the golf tee shank being otherwise free for vertical adjusting movement through said opening, and the projection having a downward extending edge so as to be adapted to be forced into the ground.

3. A device including a base'adapted to rest on the ground and having a relatively rigid anchor portion provided with a keyhole opening therethrough, and a golf tee having a shank provided at its end with a lateral projection, said shank and projection being accominodatingly re ceived by the keyhole opening and the projection interlocked with the anchor portion by a relative angularmovement between the golf tee and base, whereby the former is adjustably movable in locked position into different elevations relative to the base with the projection resting on or in the ground.

4. A device including a rubber pad having a metallic eyelet extending therethrough, said eyelet having a recess forming a keyhole opening with the eyelet opening, a golf tee having a hole slot opening extending substantially centrally through the same, whereby a golf tee having a shank provided with a lateral projection can be passed downward into said keyhole slot with the projection locked on a flange of the eyelet by a rotation of the shank.

6. A portable golf tee supporting device including a pad adapted to rest flat on the ground,

therethrough, a mesaid pad having an opening therethrough, a metallic eyelet in said opening and secured to said pad, said pad consisting of a flexible material and said eyelet being of a rigid material, and the central vertical opening through the eyelet being of keyhole form, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A portable golf tee supporting device including a pad adapted to rest fiat on the ground, said pad having a rigid portion provided with a keyhole slot extending therethrough for receiving an irregular golf tee shank as and for the purpose described and specified.

8. A portable device including a pad adapted to rest flat on the ground, said pad having a rigid portion provided with a keyhole slot extending therethrough, and a golf tee having a shank provided with a lateral projection spaced below the head thereof, said shank being entered in said slot with the projection passed there through and positively engaging the underside of the pad as a result of a relative rotation of the golf tee.

BENJAMIN GOLDMAN. 

